* From a press release…
The Illinois Inaugural committee announced the musical lineup for the Inaugural Concert on January 12, 2015. Tickets can be purchased online at www.IllinoisInauguration.com
Superstar Toby Keith will headline the concert.
From his first No. 1 smash “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” to his latest release Drinks After Work, Toby has been one of the most consistent self-directed hit makers of his era. At the core of Toby’s unparalleled success is his songwriting, which has powered an astounding succession of hit songs to the tune of more than 85 million BMI performances on commercial radio stations worldwide. He has been honored by the Nashville Songwriters Association International with its Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction, is a three-time BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year and was named the American Country Awards’ Artist of the Decade.
His albums have sold more than 40 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling all-genre artists on Billboard’s Top 200 Artists of the Decade. Keith is also Billboard’s No. 1 Country Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade.
Legendary blues musician Buddy Guy will precede Toby Keith on stage.
Buddy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a major influence on rock titans like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound, and a living link to that city’s halcyon days of electric blues. He has received 6 Grammy Awards, 28 Blues Music Awards (the most any artist has received), the Billboard magazine Century Award for distinguished artistic achievement, and the Presidential National Medal of Arts. Rolling Stone ranked him in the top 25 of its “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
The Boat Drink Caucus – comprised of Representative Chad Hays, Representative Mike Tryon and Senator Don Harmon – will open the concert. The trio combine a Jimmy Buffett-like tropical style with classic rock favorites.
First they kicked off Phases of the Moon and now they’re opening for Buddy Guy and Toby Keith. Not bad.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:25 pm:
See, now that was worth waiting for, wasn’t it.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:26 pm:
Sweet!
The Boat Drink Caucus opening? Really cool touch.
Nicely done.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:27 pm:
According to celebrity talent.net, Toby Keith’s price for a domestic event starts at $500,000.
Maybe he’ll give Rauner a deal since Quinn declared an Illinois Toby Keith Day when he played the fair.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:27 pm:
Hey Willy and Slinger; I don’t know Toby Keith, but I do know Buddy Guy. Actually know him pretty well. Don’t hate me for it! lol
- walker - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:28 pm:
Great choices. Beats the Governor’s Ball.
- Robin Ventura - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:32 pm:
Explains the ticket prices
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:34 pm:
Music is a huge weak point, but I lnow enough of Toby Keith to be dangerously embarassing.
Buddy Guy is a treasure.
The Boat Drink Caucus’ reputation proceeds them.
Good stuff.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:40 pm:
Guy, I guess that explains why Buddy plays the blues.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:42 pm:
===First they kicked off Phases of the Moon and now they’re opening for Buddy Guy and Toby Keith. Not bad.====
Not bad? They’ve just become heroes to their kids…and their parents…and everyone who knows them. If they wet themselves over this, no one would say a word! lol
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:45 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:40 pm:
Guy, I guess that explains why Buddy plays the blues.====
We talked about you. Next song he writes is: “Damn right I got the blues”
It was like he knew you man! (toying with you here) I’d pay the Half G just to hear him thunder
Boom Boom Boom.
No one does it like he does.
- Secretariat - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:47 pm:
Already not missing PQ
- AC - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:49 pm:
At first glance, this seems like an interesting lineup, and including a living legend like Buddy Guy is a great move. However, this would have seemed completely reasonable for a presidential inauguration a few years ago. I guess it makes the ticket prices easier to understand, but it’s still quite a show for an inauguration in a mid sized state.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:52 pm:
===I guess it makes the ticket prices easier to understand, but it’s still quite a show for an inauguration in a mid sized state.===
5th largest state in America.
You’re welcome.
- Anon - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:52 pm:
“How Do You Like Me Now?”
- junkyard dog - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:54 pm:
No Nuge?!
- AC - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:03 pm:
==5th largest state in America.==
Ok, it’s in the upper 10%, unlike our future governor who is in the upper 1/10 of 1%. If we just had a little more sunshine, and Rick Scott had Blago’s hair, we could knock out #4.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:21 pm:
- AC -,
Your drive-bys are getting more embarrassing.
If you don’t like it, don’t go. No one is making you,
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:27 pm:
I wonder if Bruce has heard what Buddy Guy says about politicians. The words are not allowed in this comment section.
- AC - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:33 pm:
-Oswego Willy
That was just a cheesy comment. If I were aiming for a “drive by” I’d went for something like this… Q: What’s the difference between Rauner’s budget and Rauner’s inauguration celebration? A: Rauner has a detailed plan for the inauguration celebration.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:38 pm:
Better effort - AC -, almost funny too.
- Team America - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:44 pm:
Before the concert, we could do a charity arm-wrestle between Willy and AC. That could raise a few sheckles to help balance the state budget.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:52 pm:
Inaugurations are about celebrating democracy and the continual, peaceful, transfer of power through democracy.
Plus, this is a pretty sweet lineup…
I’ll celebrate that.
- Larry the Cable Guy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 6:00 pm:
Now that there was funny, AC.
- BIG R. PH. - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 6:31 pm:
Toby Keith is a lifetime Democrat (I know that is surprising considering his music).
Huh, Money talks. BS walks.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 6:40 pm:
I am really digging this lineup. Toby Keith in Spfld? Wow. Buddy Guy?
And the freaking’ Boat Drink Caucus?
Hooray!
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 7:05 pm:
I here they’re creating several new songs for the inaugural. 1) I promised you the Moon and gave you Mud. 2) I don’t lose, the other guy just cheats. 3) It wasn’t me, who bought the nursing homes. The finale will feature a singalong with the crowd to the new song, This Home is My Home and That Home is Mine Too, this Land Belongs to Diane and me.
- John A. Logan - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 7:23 pm:
Great lineup. Buddy guy is a national treasure. Interviewed him several times, and found him to be great to converse with.
- Mouthy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 7:39 pm:
I’d rather have a root canal then listen through a country and western performance.
- PublicServant - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 8:00 pm:
Hey, they’re playing both kinds of music … Country AND Western.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 8:23 pm:
Given Rauner’s historically expensive victory and upcoming challenges, Toby could probably tailor a few songs for the event:
“Ain’t as Rich as I Once Was”
“Red Solo Guv”
“Hoosier Daddy” (for his mentor, Mini-Mitch)
“I Love This Cash Bar”
“Courtesy of the One Percent Few (The Angry Plutocrat)
“Fear for My Choices”
“How Do You Like My Budget Plan Now”
- Soccertease - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 9:10 pm:
It would be awesome if they only served drinks in Red Solo Cups at the inaugural dinner!
- Mouthy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 9:56 pm:
“Hey, they’re playing both kinds of music … Country AND Western.”
Doesn’t matter. Country. Western. Country Western. I’ll still take the rook canal and I hate root canals. Have fun You’all…
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 7:28 am:
==I am really digging this lineup. Toby Keith in Spfld? Wow==
Wasn’t he just there last August for the State Fair?
Mouthy must be not a fan both Country and the Blues Brothers
- Walter Mitty - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 7:58 am:
Wow..Just wow.
- too obvious - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 8:19 am:
Toby Keith played at least one rally for George W. Bush. He’s said he’s not a Democrat anymore. Plus I’m sure the pay is good.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 8:51 am:
I would go just to hear the Boat Drink Caucus and Buddy Guy but Toby Keith EWWWW
- Del Clinkton - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 8:58 am:
I’m sure if he had picked someone like Springsteen there would be all kinds of ad hominem attacks posted here. Well, as long as the gays dont marry…Illinoize will be fine.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:05 am:
Toby doing “Never smoke weed with Willie again”?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:18 am:
Del Clinkton…
If it was my call it would Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagen and Styx along with the Boat Drink Caucus… For an all Illinois show…
Does that work for you
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:38 am:
Well red solo cups and Buddy Guy are from Illinois at least
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:41 am:
Everything you need to know about Rauner- he has Buddy Guy open for Toby Keith.
- Lunchbox - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:08 am:
I gotta say, I’m impressed with this lineup.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:24 am:
“Everything you need to know about Rauner- he has Buddy Guy open for Toby Keith.”
Agreed.
– MrJM